Practice loading machine



May 11, 1948. J. s. BIALEK PRACTICE LOADING MACHINE Filed ma 18 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l fizz/en for John 535m 26k May 11, 1948. J. s. BIALEK PRACTICE LOADING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 r MM "P w; I; w

May 11, 1948. J. s. BIALEK PRACTICE LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1945 mu brl HHUII h h.-

fm/emar John 8.560, Zak

May 11, 1948.

v PRACTICE LOADING MACHINE J. s. BIALEK 2,441,218

Filed May 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 214 &

fizi/elz for John 8 Bid [e 1v Patented May 11, 1948 PRACTICE LOADING MACHINE John S. Bialek, Ipswich, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application May 18, 1945, Serial No. 594,464

9 Claims.

This invention relates to ordnance and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for training crews in the loading of guns of large caliber.

In order to train gun crews in the loading of 5-inch naval guns, for example, it is common practice to provide loading machines which are used extensively in naval training stations and form part of the regular equipment on ships.

Such machines simulate as nearly as practicable the rear end of the gun for the loading of which the crew is being trained and are so constructed and operated that the crew, after a short period of training on the machine, can, with very little further training, efiectively load the gun. Machines now used for this purpose are practically duplicates of a considerable portion of the gun which the crew is being trained to load and are not only expensive but occupy a considerable amount of space.

When a 5-inch naval gun has completed the counter-recoil portion of its cycle it comes to rest, the breech block of the gun being held in a lowered r retracted position and the breech of the gun being open ready to receive ammunition which commonly comprises a projectile and a separate powder case which are placed upon a tray formed by telescoping extensions of a slide and a breech casing of the gun, said tray being in approximate alinement with the lower portion of the breech of the gun so that the projectile and case can be slid forward into the breech by a hydraulically operated rammer. When the gun is at rest, as above described, a head of the rammer is in a raised inoperative position spaced a considerable distance from the rear end of the ammunition tray, said head having moved to such position during the recoil of the gun so as to permit the powder case used in the previous firing of the gun to be ejected rearward along the tray and onto the floor of a turret in which the gun is usually mounted.

Thegun is loaded at this stage of its cycle, the projectile and powder case being manually placed in the ammunition tray of the gun. Before placing the projectile and the powder case in the tray, one of the crew actuates a lever, commonly known as a rammer head lever, located above the rear end of the tray, to cause the rammer head to slide under spring action into a lowered position adjacent to the tray so that during subsequent forward movement of the rammer it will engage the rear end of the powder case and slide the case, together with the projectile, into the breech of the gun. The projectile and the powder case having been placed in the tray and the rammer head having been moved to its lowered position, a lever positioned just above the rear end of the breech block is manually actuated by one of the gun crew, causing the rammer, the head of which is in engagement with the rear end of the powder case, to move forward, causing the projectile and the case to be driven into the breech. Just before entering the breech the rim of the powder case engages a pair of lugs, causing the breech block to be raised into battery position. As the breech block is moved into battery position it causes the rammer head to be raisedslightly in order to avoid its being contacted-by the gun during recoil of said gun, a stud secured to the rammer head being moved onto an inclined camway of the gun slide. The gun is fired from a central director station after the'breech block has been locked in battery position.

During the recoil of the gun the rammer is moved to a retracted or rearward position and is then held stationary in said position, the head of the rammer being raised during its rearward movement by the above-mentioned rammer head stud, which, during such movement, travels upward along said camway. As the gun starts its counter-recoil movement, the breech block is moved to its lowered retracted position, an extractor ejeoting the empty powder case from the gun by sliding it rearward along the tray' and onto the turret floor.

When the gun is elevated above 35 the rear end of the gun slide moves into an arcuate recess of the turret floor, with the result that the empty powder case, in being ejected, is prevented by the bottom of said recess from being thrown out of the tray. Accordingly, when the gun is elevated above 35 one of the gun crew has to remove the empty powder case manually from the tray. After the powder case has been removed from the tray, the rammer head is lowered by spring action, as above explained, after one of the crew has actuated the rammer head actuating lever. Another projectile and case are then placed in the tray and the rammer actuating lever is moved by one of the members of the crew to cause the hydraulically operated rammer to reload the gun, as above described.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a, simple, inexpensive loading-machine by the use of which a gun crew may be quickly and efiectively trained in the loading of 5-inch guns, for example, such as above described.

With the above object in view, there is provided a practice loading machine comprising an Since it is desirable to train crews in the loading of guns using two-part ammunition, the tray of the illustrative machine comprises a pairof trough-shaped trays arranged in alinement, a front tray being of suitable construction to receive a projectile and a rear tray being of suitable construction to receive a powder case. In order to dump the ammunition from the trays,

each of said trays is split longitudinally along its central portion, the opposite halves of the trays being pivotally mounted for lateral movement away from each other upon a rigid frame which simulates the slide of the gun. The tray sup porting frame is pivotally mounted for angular adjustment in elevation upon a pedestal simulating a trunnion block support of the gun, means being provided to secure the frame to said pedestal for each 5 angle change in elevation of the frame on the pedestal.

The opposite halves of the trays are constantly urged toward each other, into closed ammunition supporting positions, by springs, movement of said halves of the trays toward each other being limited by stops. Extending from the opposite halves of each of the trays are holding lugs which are engaged by latches to' retain said halves of the trays in their closed positions against movement when weighted by a projectile and a powder case, the arrangement being such that the trays, after dumping the projectile and the powder case, are moved by the springs into their closed positions, the latches thereafter overriding said holding lugs to retain the trays closed. The projectile and the powder case are supported by the latched trays until mechanism operatively conmeeting the latches and a lever, which simulates a rammer actuating member of the gun, is manually actuated to cause the latches to be moved away from their associated holding lugs, thereby enabling the opposite halves of the trays to swing away from each other and thus to dump the projectile and the case into front and rear sections of the receiver, from which the projectile and case are later removed.

As above stated, it is necessary after firing the gun to move the head of the hydraulically operated rammer of the gun from a raised inoperative position to a lowered operative position adjacent to the ammunition tray of the gun so that when the rammer is actuated said head may operate against the rear end of the powder case to slide said case, and in front of it the projectile, into the breech of the gun. The rammer head of the gun is moved by a spring to its lowered operative position upon manually actuating a release member pivoted upon the frame above the rear end of the case receiving tray. In the operation of the gun the rammer head release member is actuated before placing ammunition in the tray of the gun and, in order that a crew may be trained on the machine in accordance with such practice, there is operatively connected to the mechanism through which the tray supporting latches are released, a slide which simulates the rammer head of the gun and is movable against spring action into a raised position away from the powder case sup- 4 porting tray upon release of said latches, the slide being held in its raised position by a detent.

After the trays have dumped the projectile and the case, they move back to their closed positions under the action of said springs, the latches being held away from the holding lugs of the trays until the rammer head simulating slide is released from its raised position upon actuating a lever which simulates the rammer head release member of the gun and operates the slide holding detent. It will threfore be apparent that if the practice crew fail to actuate the slide releasing leverbefore placing the projectile and the case in the trays, the unlocked trays, weighted by the ammunition, will immediately swing away from each other, causing the projectile and the case to be dumped into the receiver. When this occurs the crew will immediately realize its mistake.

In order to train the crew in the manual removal of the powder case from the tray to simulate the above-mentioned practice of manually removing the case from the tray of a gun elevated more than 35, the illustrative machine, in accordance with a further feature of the present invention, is provided with means responsive to angular adjustment of the frame of the machine above a predetermined angle of elevation, for example, 35, for causing the latches of the projectile supporting tray but not the latches of the case supporting tray to be moved away from the holding lugs of the respective trays in response to movement of the lever which simulates the ramn'ier actuating lever of the gun, with the result that the projectile is dumped from the front tray but the powder case is not dumped from the rear tray. Accordingly, when the frame Of the practice loading machine is elevated above 35,

one of the crew has to remove the powder case manually from the rear tray in accordance with the practice in the operation of the gun.

The above and various other features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which I Figs. 1 and 2 are side and plan views, respectively, partly broken away and partly in section, of the illustrative practice loading machine;

Fig. 3 is a view on line III-III of Fig. l, at

- powder case receiving tray of the machine being shown locked against movement; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding in part to Fig. 3 but showing the powder case receiving tray unlocked so as to cause a case placed in said tray to be immediately dumped from the tray;

Fig. 5 is a section on line V--V of Fig. 3 when the frame of the machine has been adjusted above 35 in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a section, partly broken away, on line VI-VI of Fig. 2; and

Fig. '7 is a detail view, partly broken away, showing the arrangement of ammunition as positioned in the trays of the machine and also showing a portion of an ammunition receiver.

The illustrative loading machine comprises a rigid frame or carrier 20 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) simulating a slide of a 5-inch naval gun, and comprising right and leftfianged side'plates 22, 24 and front and rear end plates 26 (Fig. 1), 28, said lates being welded or otherwise secured to each other. As best shown in Fig. l, the'right side plate 22 is of rectangular shape except for a de- Rigidly secured, through a plurality of braces 36, to the upper margin of the left side plate 24 is an inwardly extending ammunition shelf or ledge 3I the forward portion of which is inclined and the rear portion of which is horizontal when the frame 26 is in its horizontal position shown in Fig. 1.

Five-inch naval guns, for the practice loading of which the present machine has been provided, are commonly mounted in pairs on large craft, the illustrative frame 26 being similar to the slide upon which the left gun of each of said pairs recoils, said left gun, as in single 5-inch guns used on small craft, being loaded from the left side as viewed from the rear.

Bolted to circular bosses on the side plates 22, 24 of the frame 26 are trunnions 32 which simulate trunnions of the gun and are rotatably mounted in blocks 34 secured to a support or pedestal 36 fixed to a floor or deck 38 (Fig. 1). Legs of the trunnion block support 36 are rigidly secured to each other by a plurality of transverse headers. I

The frame 26 may be manually rotated to a desired position in elevation about a common axis 46 (Figs. 2 and 3) of the trunnions 32 and is then secured in said position by threaded bolts 42 (Fig. 1) which fit in bores of the trunnion block support 36 and are screwed into alined tapped holes 44 formed in arcuate bars 46 forming parts of depending rigid yokes 48, respectively, welded to the associated side plates 22, 24. The lines of centers of the holes 44 of the bars 46 are centered at the axis of the trunnions 32, said holes being so spaced that 5 elevation adjustments of the frame 26 on the trunnion block support 36 may be efiected. The angular adjustment of the frame 26 upon the trunnion block support 36 simulates the elevation adjustment of the gun upon its trunnion block support. For purposes of description, the frame 26 may be said to have a centrally located longitudinal axis 56 (Figs. 1 and 2) extending lengthwise of the frame and intersecting the axis 46 of the trunnions 32 midway between the legs of the trunnion block support 36.

Secured to the side plates 22, 24 of the frame 26 are rear, center and front pairs of brackets 52 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6) 54 (Figs. 1 and 2) 56 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) in bores of which are supported alined fulcrum pins 58, 66 and 62, respectively. Mounted for rotation upon the pins 58, 66 are bored bosses 64 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6), 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) of a powder case receiving tray 68, said tray comprising two arcuate parts or halves 68a (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which, when the tray 68 is in its case receiving and supporting position shown in Fig. 3, are spaced a slight distance from each other, forming at the bottom of the tray a longitudinal slot I6. The bosses 64 fit between spaced flanges of the brackets 52 and restrain the arcuate halves 68a of the tray 68 against lengthwise movement.

Mounted upon the pin 66 carried by the middle bracket 54 and upon the pin 62 carried by the front bracket 56 are bored bosses I2 (Figs. 1 and 2), I3 (Fig. 2), respectively, of a projectile receiving tray 14 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) comprising two arcuate parts or halves 14a (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which practically engage each other when the tray is in its projectile receiving and supporting position shown in Fig. 2. The bosses I2, I3 of the projectile receiving tray 14 fit between spaced flanges of the brackets 54, 56, respectively, and

insure against lengthwise movement of the tray upon the pins 66, 62.

The trays 68, I4 simulate the ammunition tray of the 5-inch gun, which tray, as previously stated, is formed by telescoping parts of the breech casing and the slide of the gun, ammunition comprising said projectile and powder case being forced lengthwise of the gun tray into the breech of the gun by a rammer.

In the illustrative loading machine, a projectile 16 (Figs. 1 and 7) and a loaded powder case 18 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7 are arranged upon the ledge 3I of the frame 26 in their proper lengthwise positions determined by a loading lug 86 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) secured to the ledge 3|, and are then rolled into the trays 14, 68, respectively, the loading motions on the part of the practice crew being practically identical with the motions of a gun crew presenting a projectile and powder case to the tray of the 5-inch gun.

The opposite halves 68a of the' powder case receiving tray 68 are constantly urged toward each other into their closed positions, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by springs 82 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6) the lower ends of which are secured to brackets 84 (Figs. 1 and 3) welded to the rear plate 28 of the frame 26 and the upper ends of which are secured to depending flanges 86 (Figs. 3 and 4) at the forward ends of holding lugs 88 formed integral with the bosses 64 of the halves 66a. of the tray 68, the tray being closed when the under faces of the holding lugs 88 are in engagement with stops 36 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) secured to. the brackets 62. The right and left halves 14a of the tray 14 are constantly urged into their closed positions, best shown in Fig. 2, by springs 92 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) the lower ends of which are attached to depending portions 94 (Fig. 1) of a transverse header 96 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the frame 26 and the upper ends of which are secured to depending flanges 96 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) of holding lugs I66 (Figs. 2 and 6) formed integral with the boss 13 of the tray 14, the halves 14a of said tray being moved toward each other by the action of the springs 62 until under faces of the holding lugs I66 engage stops I 62 secured to the bracket 56.

The trays I4, 68 are locked in their closed positions by front and rear pairs of latches I64 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) I66, the front latches I64 being fixed to longitudinal shafts I68 which are rotatably mounted in bearings supported by the front and rear brackets 56, 52 and also by bearings of a central bracket II6 (Figs, 1 and 2), each of the shafts being made in two parts joined by an Oldham coupling 2. The rear latches I 66 are normally coupled for movement with the shafts I68 through collars II4 which, as best shown in Fig. 5, are splined on the shafts and have flanges H6 which normally register in recesses II8 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) of associated rear latches.

Fixed to the rear end of each of the shafts I68 is a lever I 26 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6) having secured to it a strong spring I22 the lower end of which is attached to the bracket 84. The latches I66, I64 are constantly urged toward associated holding lugs 88, I66 by the springs 122' operating through the levers I26 and the shafts I68. the latches I66 normally engaging faces I26 (Figs. 3 and 4) and shoulders I28 of the holding lugs 88 to maintain the powder case receiving tray 68 in its closed position, and the latches I 64 engaging corresponding faces I36 (Fig. 2) and shoulders I 32 of the holding lugs I66 to maintain the projectile receiving tray I4 in its closed position. For reasons hereinafter 1 explained, the latchesel fl'ii are constantly urged toward the associated holding" lugs 8,8;by springs [I34 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) the innerends of which fit in recesses I35 of the latches and the outer ends of which are held in position by studs l 38 (Fig. 3) secured tothe brackets 52.

,As previously stated, the rammer of the aboveidentified' -inch naval gun, through hydraulically operated mechanism, feeds the projectile and the powder case resting 'upon the gun tray into the breech of the gun upon downward movement of the above-referred to rammer-actuating lever which is identical in construction and arrangement with a lever I40 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) pinnedto a shaft I42 fulcrumed in brackets I44 secured to theside plates 22, 24 of the frame 20. Secured to the shaft I42 are a' pair of arms I46 :48 to arms I59 secured to the shafts I08.

When the projectile-and the powder case are chambered and the breech block of the above I receiver I52 in their raised, operative positions I two' abutments 112 and an arm lld'which isp'ivotally connected to airod I .slidable in a bore for-med in ablock I18 secured to the receiver.v

Surrounding each of the rods I16 and interposed between an associate'dblock I18 and a lock nut threaded onto the rod I16.is aspring I80 (Figs. 2'and 3) which normally serves to retain the aibutnients I12 of each of the sections of the above the floor of the receiver, clockwise movement (Fig. 3)

' thespring being limited by the engagement of a collar I82, pinned to the rod, with the block. When the abutmentsv I12 are in their raised, opera ative positions, downward movement of the proiectile 16 andthe powder case 18in the sections operatively connected by'vertically'arranged rods identified 5-inch naval gun has been moved to battery position,the gun is fired from'one of the director stations. As above explained, when the.

,16 and the powder case 18 supported bythe' trays 14, 68 are quickly and effectively dumped from the trays by causing, the latches H14, 106 to be moved away from their associated holding lugs I00, 88against the action ofthe springs I22, I34, the projectile and the powder case falling into front and rear sections I520, (Figs. 1 and 2), I52b (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of a receiver I52. The forward end of the receiver I52 is secured by one or'rnore brackets I54 (Fig. 1) to the header 96, which may be considered part of the frame 20, and the rear end of the receiver is secured to said frame by brackets I56 (Figs. 1 and 3), I58

. (Figs. 2 and 3), said receiver, as best shown in Fig. 3, being laterally inclined at approximately 10 to the horizontal and passing through an opening I60 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the side plate 22. The front and rear sections I52a, I52b of the receiver I52 are separated by a transverse plate I82 which is arranged in approximate alinement with the abutting ends of the trays B8, 14. The forward end of the receiver I52 is curved upward, as best shown in Fig. 1, in order that it may afi'ord support for the nose portion of the projectile 16. It will be apparent that the trays '68, 14 are often inclined lengthwise at a considerable angle to the horizontal in order to simulate high angles of elevation of the gun. Accordingly, the transverse plate I62 and a rear end .!64 (Figs. 2 and 3) of the receiver I52 ex-' tend upward almost to the trays, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and have beveled ridges I66 (Figs. 3 and '7) thereby insuring that when the projectile and the powder case are dumped from the trays they shall fall into the sections I52a, I52b,

respectively, of the receiver.

Secured to a sleeve I61 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted upon a rod. I68 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) secured to depending bosses I1!) of each of the front and rear sections 152a, I52b ofthe receiver I52 are 152a, I521) of the receiver I52 is limited by said abutments. 'The projectile 1-6 and the powder case18 in engagement with the respective abut- 111611115 I12 maybe quickly released so asto ena e t e t o o the. qwenen of e tions 152a, I52b'of the receiver by sliding the rods I16 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 against the action ofthe springs I80, causing the abutments to move into slots I 84 (Figs. 1 and 2) in,

the floor 'of the receiver. 7 Arm slots I88 are formed in the lower end of ,eachof the sections I52a, I52b of the receiver I52in order to facili' tate the manual removal of the projectile 1B and the powder case 18 from the lower ends of said sections. The projectile 16 and the powder case 18, after being removed from the receiver E52,"

are placed incylinders (not shown) simulating ammunition hoists of the gunturret. H Q

As above stated, when the rammer of the gun returns'toits retracted. position during recoil of the gun elevated at less than 35?, the rammer head is moved into a raised idle position spaced a considerable distance above the ammunition tray of the gun, thereby enabling the ejected powder case to .slidethe full length ,of said'tray and onto the turretfloor. Furthermore, as above explained-it is;necessary before operating the rammer for one of the crew to cause the rammer head to be moved into a lowered position adjacent to the rear end of the tray so that said rammer head during'its forward operating stroke will slide the powder case and the projectile supported: by the tray into the breech of the gun. In order to lower the rammer head, the gun is provided with the above-mentioned mechanism comprising a lever whichis commonly referred to as the ,rammerhead release lever and is arranged above the rear end ofthe gun slide, movement of said lever permitting the rammer head to be moved under; spring action into its lowered, operative position adjacent to the tray.

With a-view to" simulating the rammer head release lever of the gun, the'illustrative machine i'siprovided With'alever I88 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) which issimilar in construction and arrangement to said rammer head release lever and is secured to one end of a shaft l90 rotatably mounted in a horizontal bore of a bearing bracket I92 secured by bolts I94 (Figs. 2 and 3) t0 the rear plate 25 'ovf-the frame 20. Pinned to the other end of the'shaft I is an arm I96 operativelyconn'ected through a link I98 to.a bellcrank lever 20]] fulcrumed on a pin 202 fixed to a bracket 20!! which is secured by screws 20% to the rear plate- 28 of the frame 20. A torsion spring 208 (Figs. 2, 3 and i) encircling the shaft I90 and having one of its ends secured to the bracket I92 ahd'its'other'end'underlying the arm I-9'6:constantlyurges the bell-crank lever 2.00

of said abutments acted on 'by' 9 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6, a detent or retaining finger 2I0 (Figs. 1, 3,4 and 6) of the bell-crank lever 200 being forced against a slide 2|2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) which simulates the abovementioned rammer head of the gun. The slide 2I2 is moved in vertical guideways 294 formed in the bracket 204 and is constantly urged downward by springs 2I6 which extends into recesses 2! of the slide and have their upper ends in engagement with angle bars 220 secured to the bracket. In the central part of the slide 2! 2 is a recess 222 into which the finger 2I0 of the bellcrank lever 200 moves when said slide is moved to a raised position by mechanism hereinafter described, said finger operating as a detent to hold the slide in its raised position until it is released by one of the crew moving the lever I88 counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6.

In the outer end of the lever I20 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6), which is pinned to the left shaft I08 as viewed in Fig. 3, is a coupling pin 224 fitting in an elongated 'slot 226 (Figs. 3 and 4) in the lower end of a link 228 pivotally connected to a lever 230 which is secured to the rear end of a shaft 232 journaled in a bore of a bearing bracket 234 supported by the rear plate 28. The forward end of the shaft 232 has secured to it a lever 236 provided with a slot 238 (Figs. 3 and 4) in which registers a stud 240 secured to the lower end of the slide 2I2.

It will be noted that when the slide 2!?! is held in its raised position by the finger 2 I the latches I04, I06 are held in their inoperative positions away from the holding lugs 88, I00 of the trays 68, 74, respectively, and therefore do not secure the trays in their closed or ammunition supporting positions. It is therefore necessary to cause the slide 2I2 to move downward into its lowered position adjacent to the tray 68 before the trays can support a projectile and powder case placed therein. It will thus be apparent that the crew practicing loading will immediately appreciate their mistake should they fail to cause the slide 2l2, which corresponds to the rammer head of the gun, to be lowered prior to placing the projectile I6 and the case I8 in the trays I4, 68, because the latches I04, I06, which, after the slide has been lowered, hold the trays in their ammunition supporting positions, will then be held away from the holding lugs I00, 88 of the trays through the above-described mechanism, with the result that the projectile and the case placed in said trays will immediately drop into the receiver.

As above explained, when the 5-inch naval gun is elevated above 35, the empty powder case ejected from the gun, instead of sliding from the ammunition tray onto the turret floor as above described, stops in the rear end of the tray because it hits the bottom of an arcuate gun re ceiving recess in the floor of the turret and cannot slide out of the tray. Accordingly, one of the members of the gun crew has to remove the empty powder case manually from the tray. It is necessary to train the crew in this operation and accordingly there is provided mechanism which, when the axis 50 of the gun slide simulating frame 20 is disposed at an angle greater than 35 to the horizontal, upon actuating the hand lever I40 causes the tray I4 to dump the projectile I6 into the front section I52a of the receiver I52 but renders the latches I06 immovable from their tray supporting positions shown in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the powder case I8 from being dumped from the tray 68 and making it necessary for one of the training crew manually to remove the case from said tray.

As above explained, each of the latches I06 has formed in its rear end the recess I I8 in which fits the flange II6 of the associated collar H4 when the axis 50 of the frame 20 is inclined at less than 35 to the horizontal, said collar being splined for rotation with and slidable along the shaft I08 upon which it is mounted to permit the collar to be moved rearward away from the latch I06 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Each of the collars II4 has a circumferential groove 242 (Figs. 5 and 6) of suitable size to receive, inwardly extending fingers 244 carried by a yoke 246 secured to a shaft 248 fulcrumed in bores of brackets 249 bolted to the side plates 22, 24. 'Pivotally connected to the leftyoke 246, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, is a rod 25I (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6) the forward end of which is connected to an upstanding arm 250 secured to a shaft 252 rotatably supported in a bracket 254 secured to,

the side plate 24 of the frame 20. A horizontal arm 256 also secured to the shaft 252 carries a cam roll 258 shaped and arranged to'fit in a cam groove 260 (Figs. 1 and 6) formed in a plate 262 bolted to the .trunnion block support 36. When the frame 20 is rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 about the axis 40 of the trunnions 32 into a position in which the axis 50 of the frame is inclined at approximately 35 to the horizontal, the cam roll 258 moves into an elevated portion of the cam groove 260, causing the arm 250 to be rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 to move the rod 25I rearward, with the result that the yokes 246 (Figs. 5 and 6) withdraw the flanges II6 (Fig 5) of the collars H4 from the recesses H8 of the latches I06. It will thus be apparent that when the frame 20 is thus inclined, the front latches I04 but not the rear latches I66 are operated upon downward movement of the rammer actuating lever I40, the springs I34 operating to insure against the displacement of the latches I06 from their tray supporting positions.

In practicing loading by the use of the illustrative machine, two members of the crew manually remove the projectile I6 and the powder case I8, respectively, from the above-mentioned cylinders (not shown) which simulate projectile and powder case hoists, place them on the ledge H. of the frame 20, and roll them into the closed trays I4, 68 which are then supported, against movement under the weight of the projectile and the case, by the latches I04, I06. One of the crew then depresses the lever I40 simulating the rammer head actuating lever of the gun, causing the latches I 04, I06 to be swung outward away from the holding lugs I00, 88 of the trays,

with the result that the trays open, causing the projectile and the case to drop into the sections I52a, I52b of the receiver I52. The projectile "i6 and the case 78 dropped into the receiver roll down the floor of the receiver until they strike the abutments I12, and later roll down tothe lower end of the receiver upon movement of the rods II6 against the action of the springs I80, the crew removing the projectile and the case from the receiver by utilizing the arm slots I86 in the lower end of the receiver and thereafter placing the projectile and the case back into said cylinders.

Movement of the longitudinal shafts I08 to cause the projectile 16 and the case I8 to be dumped also causes, through the mechanism above describedthe slide 204 to be moved to its raised position, illustrated in Fig. 4, said slide being held raised by the detent 'or finger 2"]. Before placing the next projectile 16 and case 18 in the trays 14, 68, one of the crew actuates the lever 188 which simulates the rammer head release lever of the gun, to cause the slide 204, which simulates the rammer head of the gun, to be lowered and to permit the latches I04, I 06 to be moved back into their tray supporting positions; Should the crew fail to release the slide 204 beforeplacing the projectile I6 and the case 18 in the trays, said projectile and case, after rolling over the ledge 3|, will immediately dump through the trays into the receiver I52. The crew then realizes that it has failed previously to actuate the lever [88 and takes steps to correct the error'during the next loading operation.

As above explained, when the axis :50 of the frame 20 is positioned at a greater angle than 35 to the horizontal, the tray 68 is at all times locked in its case supporting position and one of the members of the crew has to remove the case manually from the tray. 7

It will be appreciated that in practicing loading on the above machine the crew go through the same motions as they go through when loading the above-mentioned gun, any errors made in said practice loading being readily noted and corrected. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a loading machine for training gun crews, a tray one portion of which is mounted for movement away from another portion thereof, means for locking against movement said one portion of the tray in ammunition supporting position, a lever, a slide, mechanism comprising said slide movable into one position in response to movement of said lever for rendering said locking means ineffective and thus causing ammunition placed upon the tray immediately to be dumped from said tray, a detent for locking said mechanism in said one position, and. an arm for operating said detent to permit said mechanism comprising said slide to move into another position in which said means for locking said one portion of the tray in ammunition supporting position against movement is rendered operative.

2. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a rigid frame, trays which are supported by the frame and are constructed and arranged to receive a projectile and a powder case respectively, a receiver, said trays being movable with relation to the frame from ammunition receiving positions under the weight of the projectile andthe powder case to cause said projectile and case to be dumped into the receiver, means for securing the trays in their ammunition receiving positions in the frame, mechanism for operating said means to cause the trays to move with relation to the frame, thereby causing the projectile and the case to be dumped fromthe trays into the receiver, and connections which comprise a lever and are operatively connected to said mechanism, said connections being constructed and arranged to render said means ineffective tosupport the trays against movement relatively to the frame, after the trays have dumped the projectile and the case, until said lever is manually actuated.

3. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a rigid frame,'trays which are mounted for pivotal movement upon the frame and are constructed and arranged to support a projectile and a powder case respectively, a pair of stops, springs for urging the trays when empty into ammunition supporting positions against the stops, latches for retaining the trays in their ammunition supporting positions, a receiver, means comprising a lever corresponding to a member actuating a rammer and adapted to move said latches to inoperative positions to enable the trays, weighted by the projectile and the case, to pivot on the frame against the action of said springs, thereby causing the projectile and the case to be dumped into the receiver, a slide movable toward and away from the case supporting tray, mechanism responsive to movement of said lever for raising the slide to a remote position away from the case supporting tray upon movement of said latches to their inoperative positions, locking means for retaining said slide in said remote position and 'for retaining the latches in their inoperative positions, and an arm, for releasing said locking means to cause the slide to be moved to a lowered position adjacent to the case receiving tray and to cause said latches to be moved back to their tray supporting positions.

4. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a rigid frame, a pedestal, a tray mounted upon the frame, said tray being constructed and arranged to receive a powder case, mechanism for locking the tray against movement with relation to the frame, connections for operating said mechanism to cause said tray to dump the powder case, said frame being angularly movable upon the pedestal into different positions in elevation, and means responsive to said angular movement of the frame for rendering said connections inoperative when the frame is elevated above a predetermined angle.

5. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a tray for receiving a projectile, a tray for receiving a powder case, means for locking the first-named tray in a projectile receiving position, means for locking the second-named tray in a case receiving position, mechanism for releasing the first-named locking means to cause the projectile receiving tray to move to a retracted position, thereby causing. said projectile to be dumped, mechanism for releasing the second-named locking means to cause the powder case receiving tray to move to a retracted position, thereby causing said powder case to be dumped, said trays being angularly adjustable as a unit into different positions with relation to the horizontal about an axis spaced from and extending transversely of said trays, and means responsive to adjustment of the trays above a predetermined angle about said axis for rendering inoperative the mechanism for releasing the powder case receiving tray.

6. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a rigid frame, trays which are supported by said frame and are constructed and arranged to receive a projectile and a powder case respectively, a receiver, said trays being mounted for movement with relation to the frame, means for securing the trays in projectile and case receiving positions in the frame, mechanism for releasing the trays for movement in the frame to cause the projectile and the case received by and supported in the trays to be dumped from said trays, a slide which is movable toward and away from the case receiving tray, means responsive to movement of said mechanism for moving said slide into a raised position away from the case receiving tray, and

13 means for holding the slide in its raised position and for retaining the trays released for dumping movement in the frame.

7. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a tray comprising two or more parts for receiving a projectile, a tray comprising two or more parts for receiving a powder case, said parts of each of the trays being mounted for relative movement to cause the projectile and the case to be dumped from the trays, mechanism for enabling the trays to be moved into difierent angularly adjusted positions in elevation, means for causing the parts of the projectile receiving tray to move relatively to each other when the trays are moved above a predetermined angle in elevation, and means for causing the parts of the powder case receiving tray to be held against relative movement when the trays are moved about said predetermined angle.

8. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a projectile receiving tray, a powder case receiving tray, means for locking the projectile receiving tray in a position in which it supports a projectile placed thereon, means for locking the powder case receiving tray in a position in which it supports a case placed thereon, mechanism for releasing said first-named looking means to cause the projectile receiving tray to dump the projectile, mechanism for releasing said second-named locking means to cause the powder case receiving tray to dump said case, mechanism for causing the trays to be moved into difi'erent angularly adjusted positions in elevation, and connections movable in response to movement of the trays above a predetermined angle in elevation for rendering inoperative said second-named mechanism to insure that the powder case cannot be dumped from its associated tray.

9. In a loading machine for use in training gun crews, a frame, said frame being mounted for angular adjustment into different positions in elevation, projectile and powder case receiv ing trays supported by said frame, said trays being constructed and mounted to open under the weight of the projectile and the case, for dumping said projectile and case, latches movable from operative positions, in which they support the trays against movement and thereby cause the trays to support the projectile and the case, to inoperative positions, in which they afford no support for the trays and thereby permit the trays to dump the projectile and the case, manually operated connections for moving said latches from their operative to their inoperative positions to cause the projectile and the case to be dumped from the trays, and mechanism responsive to angular adjustment of the frame above a predetermined angle in elevation for causing the latches associated with the case receiving tray at all times to be retained inoperative positions to insure against movement of said case receiving tray irrespective of movement of said manually operated connections.

JOHN S. BIALEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 770,320 Schneider Sept. 20, 1904 1,438,670 Standish Dec. 12, 1922 2,038,503 Broussard July 27, 1937 2,112,853 Lucht Apr. 5, 1938 2,261,194 Vickers Nov. 4, 1941 2,333,262 Markey Nov. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 232,735 Germany 1911 466,554 Great Britain 1937 

